[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62512-62513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24807]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Sunsetting of Raster Nautical Charts

AGENCY: Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NOAA is undertaking a five-year program to end all raster and 
paper nautical chart production. Ultimately, production of all NOAA 
paper nautical charts, raster navigational charts (NOAA RNC[supreg]), 
and related products, such as BookletChartsTM will cease. 
NOAA is seeking feedback from chart users and companies that provide 
products and services based on NOAA raster and electronic navigational 
chart (NOAA ENC[supreg]) products. This information will shape the 
manner and timing in which

[[Page 62513]]

the product sunsetting process will proceed. More detailed information 
regarding this transition is available from https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/raster-sunset.pdf.

DATES: Comments are due by midnight, February 1, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the Sunsetting of Raster Nautical Charts 
through NOAA's ASSIST feedback tool at https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/customer-service/assist, or via mail to National Ocean Service, NOAA 
(NCS2), ATTN Sunset of Raster Charts, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910-3282.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast and Geodetic Survey Act of 1947 
and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act requires that NOAA 
compile and distribute nautical charts and other nautical publications. 
These statutes do not specify a particular format for chart products. 
NOAA and its predecessor agencies have produced paper nautical charts 
of the U.S. Coasts, its territorial waters, and the Great Lakes since 
the mid-1800s. NOAA has produced electronic navigational charts (ENCs) 
since 1993.
    The International Maritime Organization now mandates that all large 
commercial vessels on international voyages use ENCs. In 2016, the USCG 
started allowing regulated commercial vessels on domestic voyages to 
use ENCs in lieu of paper charts. Recreational boaters are also 
increasingly using electronic chart displays.
    Use of NOAA ENCs surpassed paper nautical charts in 2011. ENC sales 
increased 425% since 2008, while sales of paper charts are now half of 
2008 levels. The current NOAA nautical chart product suites comprise 
1,258 electronic navigational charts (NOAA ENC[supreg]) and 1,007 NOAA 
raster/paper nautical charts. NOAA has started a multi-year program to 
create a standard gridded layout and increase the scale of ENCs. This 
will increase the number of detailed NOAA ENCs to about 9,000.
    NOAA is undertaking a five-year program to end all raster and paper 
nautical chart production. Ultimately, production of all NOAA paper 
nautical charts, raster navigational charts (NOAA RNC[supreg]), and 
related products, such as BookletChartsTM will cease.
    NOAA is taking steps to provide a NOAA Custom Chart web-based 
application that will enable users to download and print raster chart 
backup files created from the most up-to-date ENC data. The NOAA Custom 
Chart prototype is available from https://devgis.charttools.noaa.gov/pod. These chart backup files will look somewhat different than 
traditional paper nautical charts, but will provide a similar 
functionality.
    NOAA seeks comments from the public regarding the raster and paper 
chart product sunset transition and is particularly interested in:
     suggestions for improving the NOAA Custom Chart web 
application, and
     understanding other non-navigational uses for paper or 
raster nautical charts.

Richard Brennan,
Acting Director, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-24807 Filed 11-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P